Kevin P. Hill, MD, MHS, is an addiction psychiatrist conducting clinical research aimed at developing medications and behavioral interventions that might help those wanting to stop smoking marijuana or cigarettes. Dr. Hill received a prestigious federal K99/R00 grant award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse: his project is to test the efficacy of a synthetic marijuana-like compound, nabilone, as a medication for patients with marijuana dependence. Dr. Hill earned a Masters in Health Science from the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at Yale and has published on numerous topics in addiction. Recently, he has spoken nationally and appeared on television on the topics of marijuana policy and treatment, offering a balanced, evidence-based stance on these issues. Dr. Hill's book, Marijuana: The Unbiased Truth About the World's Most Popular Weed, will be released by Hazelden Publishing in March 2015.

MARCH RELEASE

From he Author:

The Unbiased Truth on Today's Headlines

The leading clinical expert on marijuana sifts through the myths about the drug to deliver an unbiased, comprehensive guide backed by scientific facts to give you the information you need to make informed decisions about marijuana.

With constant debate about medical marijuana and the legalization of marijuana across the nation, interest in marijuana is peaking. Last month, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta wrote an article changing his stance on the use of medical marijuana which made global headlines; the topic clearly struck a chord, as his piece was shared over 330,000 times on Facebook, became a trending topic on Twitter, and generated over 26,000 comments online.[1] The buzz around his article prompted The Washington Post to ask: "Is pot the new gay marriage?"[2]

While opinions vary on medical marijuana and legalization, these issues are here to stay. The number of states with medical marijuana laws is on the rise and the United States Justice Department clarified that it will not use federal authority to impede states' laws legalizing marijuana, thus paving the way for broad legalization across the country.[3] Many people view marijuana as a harmless drug; however, the data is quite clear that for approximately 10% of users, it does become addictive and dependence can lead to significant mental and physical problems. There are at least two million Americans who meet the criteria for marijuana addiction.

This book will make a unique contribution to the literature as the comprehensive guide to both understanding the science behind the potential risks of marijuana and knowing what to do if someone you care about has a problem with marijuana. The Unbiased Truth explores the gap between the science and common misconceptions about marijuana, and offers validation for those who have come to wonder if their marijuana use is holding them back. For those who are curious about treatment, the book tells them what help looks like and how to get it.

An eye-opening, easy to understand definitive guide to the realities of marijuana usage and addiction including the latest, most cutting-edge research and relatable case studies. Ultimately, the book will give marijuana users and addicts, as well as their family and friends, health care professionals and policy makers who deal with marijuana a new perspective and knowledge of what happens when people become addicted to marijuana, and what treatments are likely to help them.